Check marking device



R. l. HELLER Feb. 28, 19319...

CHEGKVMARKING D EVICE v vFiled May 24, 1937 5.3mm l] -oaoneeeooeco'aooonnoaoeoael xnn..

lllll'll'llllllllllllnl Patented Feb. 28, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE 6 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in check marking devices,particularly portable devices of this class which are adapted to becarried in a pocket or the like.

The object of the invention is to improve the construction and operationof check -marking devices and particularly to provide an improvedportable check marking device of simple, inexpensive and efficientconstruction. It is also the object of this invention to provide animproved folding pocket check book having incorporated therein simpleand eflicient check marking mechanism which is normally enclosed withina jacket together with a supply of blank checks so that the clothing andperson of the user are shielded and protected from injury by the markingmechanism and the marking device is permanently associated with thesupply of blank checks.

To these ends I have provided certain improvements in check markingdevices as set forth in the following description, the several novelfeatures of the invention being separately pointed out and defined inthe claims at the close thereof.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a folding pocket check book embodying oneform of my invention, the same being shown in its open condition.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section on line 2--2 of Fig. 1.

Figure 3 is also a longitudinal sectional view but with the book in itsfolded or closed condition.

Figure 4 is a sectional detail illustrating the mode of using themarking mechanism illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3.

Figure 5 is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating an alternativeform of marking mechanism.

Figure 6 is a plan view of the parts shown in Fig. 5.

The embodiment of my invention illustrated in Figs. l to 4, inclusive,is a combination folding check book and check marking device comprisinga jacket made from two stripsof leather or other suitable material I0and II of different lengths, said two strips being superposed, one uponthe other, and fastened together along their opposite side marginalportions by lines of stitches I2, as usual, to provide a pocket I3whereof one end portion is occupied by a tang I4 provided at one end ofa block or stack of blank checks I5. The leather strip I0 is providedadjacent to its opposite ends with complemental snap fastener elementsincluding a socket member I6 fixed within an aperture provided adjacentto one end of said strip and a stud member I'I xed within an apertureprovided adjacent to the opposite end thereof, the mouth or entrance ofsocket member I6 being upon the top or inner side of strip I0, Fig. 1,and the head of stud member I1 being upon the bottom or outer sidethereof. The inner relatively short strip I I is disposed nearer one endof the outer longer strip IIJ than the opposite end thereof so that saidopposite end portion of the latter serves as a flexible end flap whichcan be folded or bent around the other end of said strip IIJ and itssocket member I6 engaged with the stud member II when the jacketstructure is folded transversely upon itself near its middle as shown inFig` 3.

The above described jacket structure is substantially the same as hasheretofore been employed in connection with folding check books.

It is a feature of all of the folding check books illustrated in theaccompanying drawing that each is permanently provided upon its interiorwith mechanism that is manually operable to impress protective markingsupon the checks as the latter are used and so that when the book isopened up upon a desk or the like said mechanism, in the best forms ofmy invention, is disposed upon the top side of the jacket where it isreadily accessible for use in marking a check after the latter has beendrawn and removed from the book. Another feature characterizing eachform of book herein illustrated is that means is also provided forholding the marking mechanism in position upon the inner side of thejacket and, as shown, this means may consist of an extension or tang I9forming part of the marking mechanism, said tang being telescopicallytted into one end of the pocket of the jacket, above referred to, viz.,the end thereof that is opposite to the end that is occupied by the tangI4 of the stack or block of checks I5. Or if desired any otherappropriate means may be employed for connecting the marking mechanismwith the jacket.

In Figs. l to 4, inclusive, the tang I9 is an integral extension of asheet metal plate or frame 20 part of which occupies a position outsideof the pocket I3 and is made with shoulders 2| at the opposite sidesthereof to abut the proximate -end of the inner leather strip I I sothat the frame cannot be materially displaced laterally or inwardlyrelatively to the pocket, the tang I9 fitting the pocket snugly.

At opposite sides thereof the frame 20 is made with upstanding aperturedlugs or ears 22, one at each side of the frame, and between andpivotally supported by these lugs or `ears is a carrier, indicatedgenerally at 23, for a plurality of independently rotatable toothedmarking wheels 24. The carrier 23 is a lever comprising a transverselydisposed bar 25 provided at its opposite ends with arms 26 pivotallyconnected at 21 with the ears 22 of the frame. 'I'he arms 26 support theopposite ends of a transverse arbor or shaft 28 on which the wheels 24and a plurality of wheel spacing rollers 29 are all mounted to rotatefreely and independently but so that they are held against movementlengthwise of the shaft or spindle.

Directly beneath or opposite the bank of marking wheels 24 the frameplate 20 is made with a series of parallel longitudinally disposed slots30 one of which is directly opposite each of said wheels. These slotsprovide between them a number of parallel check-supporting rails 3|, oneof which is directly opposite each wheelspacing roller 29.

When protective markings are to be imposed upon a check the latter istorn from the stack or block I while the book lies in open conditionupon a table or other suitable support and after lifting the lever 23into the elevated position shown in Fig. 4, the check is slid intoposition beneath the wheels 24 as shown at C, after which the lever 23is swung downwardly by linger pressure applied to cross-bar 25 and whileso held the check is pulled endwise, by means of the other hand, in thedirection of the arrow, Fig. 4. During this operation the rollers 29press the check against the tops of the abutment rails 3l and are freeto rotate with the check as the latter is pulled forward. At the sametime the teeth of the wheels 24 form several parallel lines ofperforations in the check, said wheels being also free to rotate withthe movement of the latter. It will be understood that the slots Bilprovide passageways through which the teeth of the marking wheels swingas they are rotated by the forward movement of the check.

Thus a longitudinal band of perforations is formed in the check and inorder to ensure that this band shall include the writing on the lines 32and 33 of the check I provide the frame 20 with two upstandingcheck-positioning lugs or ears 34, one near each side of the frame,between which the check is placed and drawn forward during the markingoperation. These lugs serve to position the check properly relatively tothe marking wheels and also to guide the check while it is being drawnforward, thus co-operating with the wheels to ensure a straight-awayforward movement of the check.

Constructing the device so that each wheel 24 is freely rotatableindependently as described avoids tearing of the check by the wheelsduring the marking operation, should it swerve while being drawnforward.

In the form of my invention illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6 the lever 23 isconstructed and mounted on the frame 20 as described in connection withFigs. l and 2 except that its arms 26 may be made slightly longer sothat an abutment roll 35 may occupy a position between the wheels 24 oflever 23 and the axes of the pivots 2l as shown in Fig. 5. This abutmentroll is disposed transversely and trunnions at the opposite ends thereofare journaled in two upstanding lugs struck up from the frame plate 20,one of said lugs being shown at 34a in Fig. 5.

The part of roll 35 that is opposite the bank of wheels 24 is formedwith a series of annular grooves 30a each of which is directly oppositeone of said wheels, while the peripheries of the annular flanges of thisroll which alternate with the grooves 30a are nearly in contact with theperipheries of the rollers 29 when the lever 23 occupies its operativeposition shown in Figs. 5 and 6.

When a check is to be marked by the mechanism of Figs. 5 and 6 the lever23 thereof is swung upwardly into an elevated position, the check isplaced between the two rolls, and the lever returned again to itslowermost position where it is held by finger pressure while the checkis pulled forward, the abutment wheel, the rollers and the markingwheels all turning in unison to permit free passage of the check.

In all forms of the invention herein illustrated the marking mechanismis embodied as an attachment for existing jackets constructed asheretofore and without alteration thereof which is, from one point ofview a distinct advantage, although it will be clear that if desired themarking mechanism may be otherwise incorporated as a part of the jacketstructure.

What I claim is:

1. As a new article of manufacture, a marking mechanism comprising abase member adapted to be seated atwise upon a foldable jacket for ablock of blank checks, said base member being made with an extension tooccupy a pocket with which said jacket is constructed, a lever pivotallymounted on said base member so as to swing toward and from the same,rotatable check marking devices carried by said lever, and abutmentmeans on said base member between which and said rotatable markingdevices the check to be marked is drawn while said marking devices areheld in engagement therewith by means of said lever, and side guides onsaid base member for directing the passage of the check between saidmarking devices and said abutment means.

2. As a new article of manufacture, a marking mechanism of the characterdescribed compris` ing a base member adapted to be seated atwise upon afoldable jacket for a block of blank checks, said base member being madewith an extension to occupy a pocket with which said jacket isconstructed, a lever pivotally mounted on said base member so as toswing toward and from the same, rotatable check marking devices carriedby said lever, and abutment means on said base member between which andsaid rotatable marking devices the check to be marked is drawn whilesaid marking devices are held in engagement therewith by means of saidlever, said base member being made at its opposite sides with upstandinglugs and said lever including a transversely disposed intermediateportion provided at its opposite ends with arms pivotally connected withsaid lugs and said marking devices being rotatably supported by the armsof said lever.

3. As a new article of manufacture, a marking mechanism of the characterdescribed comprising a base member adapted to be seated atwise upon afoldable jacket for a block of blank checks, said base member being madewith an extension to occupy a pocket with which said jacket isconstructed, a lever pivotally mounted on said base member so as toswing toward and from the same, rotatable check marking devices carriedby said lever, and abutment means on said base member between which andsaid rotatable marking devices the check to be marked is drawn whilesaid marking devices are held in engagement therewith by means of saidlever, the outer portion of said base member being made at its oppositesides with upstanding lugs and said lever comprising .a transverselydisposed intermediate portion provided at its opposite ends withparallel arms pivotally connected with said lugs by which said rotatablecheck markingA devices are supported.

4. As a new article of manufacture, a marking mechanism of the characterdescribed comprising a base member adapted to be seated flatwise upon afoldable jacket for a block of blank checks, said base member being madewith an extension to occupy a pocket with which said jacket isconstructed, a lever pivotally mounted on said base member so as toswing toward and from the same, rotatable check marking devices carriedby said lever, and abutment means on said base member between which andsaid rotatable marking devices the check to be marked is drawn whilesaid marking devices are held in engagement therewith by means of saidlever, said marking devices consisting of a transversely disposed row oftoothed marking wheels and said abutment means being a portion of saidbase member which is formed with a plurality of slots disposed side byside, one opposite each of said wheels, said slots being adapted toreceive the teeth of said wheels while the portions of said base memberbetween said slots provide checksupporting rails.

5. As a new article of manufacture, a marking mechanism comprising abase member; a lever including a transversely disposed intermediateportion provided at its opposite ends with relatively parallel armspivotally connected with said base member so as to swing toward and fromthe latter, said arms being spaced apart to provide between them apassageway for the check that is to be marked; a rotatable check markingdevice carried by said lever, and abutment means on said base memberbetween which and said rotatable marking device the check to be markedis drawn while said marking device is held in engagement therewith bymeans of said lever, said lever being movable on an axis that isparallel with but offset with respect to the axis of said markingdevice.

6. As a new article of manufacture, a marking mechanism constructed inaccordance with claim 5 and wherein the said abutment means consists ofan abutment roll rotatably supported by said base member and whose axisis also parallel with the axis of said lever.

RICHARD I. HELLER.

